Systems and methods for scheduling interactive media and events

ABSTRACT

The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may be associated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can then schedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may use data associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, the electronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduled broadcast and/or event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/805,556, filed Jun. 6, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/202,981, filed Mar. 16, 2021, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/689,725, filed Nov.20, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/373,987, filed Dec. 9, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/829,042, filed Aug. 18, 2015, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/137,698, filed Dec.20, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/334,400, filed Dec. 12, 2008, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. 119(c) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/013,921, filed Dec.14, 2007. Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety, including specifically but not limited to thesystems and methods relating to scheduling interactive media and events.

BACKGROUND Field

The embodiments of the invention relate to the field of interactivemedia technologies, and in particular, to systems and methods forproviding various notifications to user regarding the schedule ofinteractive media and/or events.

Description of the Related Art

With the development of modern times, it is becoming increasinglydifficult to find and schedule time to review, listen, and/or watchbroadcasts, and/or scheduled events (for example, sale events, concertevents, or the like). Additionally, the development of new technologiesand modalities has increased the availability, quantity, and quality ofbroadcasts and events. As a result, it has become more challenging forpeople to become aware of the available content and events, and/or whereto locate the content. Moreover, technology advancements have resultedin further audience fragmentation, which has in turn made it moredifficult for broadcasters and event organizers to garner audienceviewership and event attendees, and to generate advertising revenues,product revenues, and/or event revenues.

SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, a system for scheduling interactive media andevents comprises: an interactive media transmission associated with atleast one event, wherein a unique identifier specific to the instance ofthe scheduling opportunity is transmitted in association with theinteractive media transmission; a database associated with theinteractive media transmission, wherein the unique identifier specificto the instance of the scheduling opportunity resides in a look uptable; an interactive media receiver; a monitor module to determinewhether the notification criteria for the scheduled event has occurred,associated with the interactive media receiver; an input module for auser to select the interactive media transmission received by theinteractive media receiver; a communications module for communicatingbetween the interactive media receiver, the monitor module associatedwith the interactive media receiver, and the database associated withthe interactive media transmission, wherein the unique identifierspecific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity is communicatedto the database associated with the interactive media transmission uponthe user selection of the interactive media transmission received by theinteractive media receiver; and wherein the at least one event isscheduled in the monitor module after the user selects the interactivemedia transmission received by the interactive media receiver.

In some embodiments, a system for scheduling interactive media andevents comprises: an interactive broadcast media transmission associatedwith at least one media or an event; a database associated with theinteractive broadcast media transmission; an interactive broadcast mediareceiver; a calendar associated with the interactive broadcast mediareceiver, wherein the calendar is configured to allow a user to selectthe interactive broadcast media transmission received by the interactivebroadcast media receiver; a communications connection configured tocommunicate between the interactive broadcast media receiver, thecalendar associated with the interactive broadcast media receiver, andthe database associated with the interactive broadcast mediatransmission; and wherein the at least one event is scheduled on thecalendar after the user selects the interactive broadcast mediatransmission received by the interactive broadcast media receiver.

In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method for schedulinginteractive media and events comprises: receiving, in a broadcastreceiver device, at least a broadcast, wherein the broadcast comprisesan interactive media transmission, at least one option associated withthe interactive media transmission, and a unique identifier specific tothe instance of the scheduling opportunity of the interactive mediatransmission, wherein the interactive media transmission is associatedwith a scheduled event; presenting, using the broadcast receiver device,the interactive media transmission and the at least one optionassociated with the interactive media transmission; receiving, throughan input module connected to the broadcast receiver device, a selectionby a user of at least one option associated with the interactive mediatransmission; transmitting, through a network connection using thebroadcast receiver device, the unique identifier specific to theinstance of the scheduling opportunity to a schedule delivery systemserver; receiving from the schedule delivery system server, through thenetwork connection using the broadcast receiver device, scheduling dataspecific to the interactive media transmission and user schedulingpreference data; generating a calendar reminder in the broadcastreceiver device based on the scheduling data and the user schedulingpreference data, wherein the calendar reminder causes the broadcastreceiver device to produce an alert.

In some embodiments, a computer system for scheduling interactive mediaand events comprises: a scheduler control module configured to operateon a server that receives a schedule for at least event; wherein thescheduler control system associates an interactive broadcast mediatransmission with the at least one event; wherein the scheduler controlmodule determines an recipient interactive broadcast media receiver, adatabase associated with an interactive broadcast media transmission;and a scheduling delivery module that communicates the interactivebroadcast media transmission associated with the at least one media orevent to the interactive broadcast media receiver, a means forcommunicating between the scheduler control module, the schedulingdelivery module, the interactive broadcast media receiver, and thedatabase associated with the interactive broadcast media transmission.

In certain embodiments, a method for scheduling interactive media andevents comprises associating at a server an interactive mediatransmission with at least one event; selecting a recipient interactivemedia receiver to receive the interactive media transmission; andcommunicating the interactive media transmission to the interactivemedia receiver.

For purposes of this summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the invention are described herein. It is to be understoodthat not necessarily all such aspects, advantages, and features may beemployed and/or achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment ofthe invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art willrecognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a mannerthat achieves one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention are described in detail below with reference to the drawingsof various embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and not tolimit the invention. The drawings comprise the following figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a high-level overview of ascheduler system.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a schedule control system.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a calendar communications device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting one embodiment of acomputer hardware system configured to run software and/or hardware forimplementing one or more embodiments of the scheduler systems, schedulecontrol systems, and/or the calendar communications devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosedbelow, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art thatthe invention described herein extends beyond the specifically disclosedembodiments, examples and illustrations and includes other uses of theinvention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Embodimentsof the invention are described with reference to the accompanyingfigures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. Theterminology used in the description presented herein is not intended tobe interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it isbeing used in conjunction with a detailed description of certainspecific embodiments of the invention. In addition, embodiments of theinvention can comprise several novel features and no single feature issolely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential topracticing the inventions herein described. Numerous technical detailsare set forth in this description. These details are provided toillustrate various embodiments, and are not intended to limit theinventions. Thus, nothing in this detailed description is intended toimply that any particular feature, characteristic, or component of thedisclosed system is essential to the inventions.

The terms “broadcast” or “broadcast stream,” “broadcasted media,”“show,” or “event,” “media event,” “interactive media transmission,”“interactive broadcast media transmission,” or “broadcast signal” asused herein are interchangeable and the terms broadly refer to, withoutlimitation, content, data, advertisements, reports, items, broadcasts,sales, concerts, movies, services, stage plays, repairs, maintenance,classes, sporting, dating services or the like, and/or programmingdistributed over a wide variety of media such as terrestrial radio,over-the-air (or terrestrial) television, cable, satellite, internet,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks, peer-to-peer networks, LAN's,WAN's, or the like.

The terms “broadcast source” or “broadcaster” are interchangeable asused herein, and all terms broadly comprise systems and/or devices thattransmit broadcast streams, comprising without limitation broadcaststations and/or towers that transmit radio or television signals,servers or other devices that push data feeds over wired and/or wirelessnetworks, such as the internet, LAN's or WAN's, or the like.

The terms “computer server,” or “computing systems,” or “computerclients,” or “servers,” or “computing system devices,” as used hereinare interchangeable, and the terms broadly refer to, without limitation,a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions orthe like.

The terms “calendar” or “calendaring tool” are interchangeable as usedherein, and all terms broadly comprise systems, components, software,firmware and/or devices that stores a record of the timing for an alertabout a future event, monitors the passage of time to determine if thetiming for the alert has occurred and when the timing for the alert hasoccurred, notifies the user using visual, aural and/or other sensorymeans and interacts with any other devices associated with the scheduledevent such as digital video recorders, security systems, lights, mediaplayers or the like.

Interactive media technologies provide systems and methods to users forenabling real-time response to media and/or interactive events. When theuser has an interest in a broadcast, broadcasted media and/orinteractive media events, they can indicate their interest by forexample, “pushing the button” on an interactive device, generating avoice command, or clicking on a hyperlink using the Internet through theuse of interactive technologies. Interacting with a media event, in realtime or otherwise, does not provide the direct ability to schedule areminder and/or provide access to a media event broadcast at a futuretime and/or date.

For example, the technology can be used where a media event isadvertised as occurring at a time and/or date in the future and/or theuser wants to schedule a reminder and/or wants to record the media inparallel to generating an interactive response to the broadcast media ofinterest. In non-interactive media, a response can be generatedindirectly by making a mental note, writing down the schedule for thedesired event on a random piece of paper and/or entering the schedule ofthe event in a day timer, PDA and/or other scheduler.

One issue with these various approaches is that the human mind issubject to forgetfulness, random pieces of paper can get lost, and/or itmay not be convenient to enter an event into a calendar, even if thescheduler is available. The inability to remember and/or consistentlykeep track of notes demonstrates the usefulness of automaticallyenabling the scheduling of events and/or a reminder of the scheduledbroadcast and/or event in relation to the interactive broadcasted media.Further, the inability to easily schedule a reminder of an eventextending to recording the same event is problematic.

In certain embodiments, foreknowledge of schedulable events can allow anautomated scheduling system to create a unique identifier specific tothe instance of the scheduling opportunity for storage in a databaseserver and/or associate that unique identifier with broadcast segmentsor media elements as they are transmitted to receiving devices. Devicescapable of receiving such transmissions can also be capable of receivingand/or processing the unique identifier using programmable softwareand/or firmware resident on the device.

Identifying information and other data, including without limitation thename of a program, language of transmission, start time, end time,duration and/or other relevant information, can also be transmitted withthe program and/or unique identifier. The combination of receiving theseelements, whether obtained from a single transmission source and/ormultiple transmission sources can provide a basis for establishing theelectronic scheduling of an event using an electronic calendaring tool.

In certain embodiments, software and/or firmware resident on thereceiving device and/or in some cases resident on a second devicerelated to the receiving device, can have the ability to interpret thescheduling information and/or can format that data for storage in theelectronic calendaring software. The software can increase the odds ofsuccessfully enjoying the media event. For example, the software canmanipulate notification tools such as audio and/or visual alarms on thefirst receiving device and/or a second associated device, and/or can setthe device into the record mode at a specific time to capture a scheduleevent.

The database server can provide full flexibility for users. For example,the database server can receive and/or store settings based on userpreferences (for example, sending an alert or setting a calendarreminder five minutes before a scheduled broadcast or event), supporttransmission of a single scheduled broadcasts and/or event to multipleusers whether in a fixed location and/or mobile location, and/or canallow for indeterminate start and/or end times for scheduled broadcastsand/or events. The calendar functions can be centralized so that thealert is tracked in the central database server and a notification sentto at least one user at the appropriate time and/or the calendarfunctions can be distributed across multiple devices either usingpeer-to-peer, broadcast and/or Internet Protocol to provide the alert tothe user and/or notification to other electronic devices.

In certain embodiments, flexible methods can effectively schedule areminder for an event in the future using tools such as an electroniccalendar and/or Java, J2ME, BREW, Windows, Symbian, Mac OS and/orsimilar coding algorithms. Flexible methods can effectivelyelectronically record an event based on a broadcasted media event and/orreceipt of an electronic invitation to schedule an appointment.Flexibility in creating reminders and/or digitally recording of eventscan be provided. A flexible method can support effective scheduling forsome and/or all of the various event types.

System effectiveness can also depend on the type of event beingscheduled. Scheduling of some events can be handled by a machine wheresome and/or all of the receipt of information, processing by software,and/or scheduling in an electronic calendaring system can occurautomatically. In certain embodiments, scheduling of events can behandled without human intervention. Some events have a definitive starttime and/or end time, and/or can be scheduled with precision.

In certain embodiments, other events may have a changeable start timeand/or a dependent end time (for example, sporting events at theOlympics may wait for good weather and/or overtime games may run beyondthe scheduled end time), and/or can be rescheduled (for example, in thecase of breaking news offsetting a previously scheduled program). Otherevents may use additional information before completing the schedulingof a reminder and/or recording. Scheduling a reminder of an event canserve as a reminder to complete a future scheduling and/or digitalrecording task.

The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may beassociated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can thenschedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may usedata associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, theelectronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduledbroadcast and/or event.

In certain embodiments, different event types can benefit from animproved method of scheduling and/or recording. Events can becategorized in association with event types. Some events can becategorized in association with multiple event types depending on theevent and/or the user.

An event that has a fixed start and/or end time can be scheduled and/ordigitally recorded, such as a TV show. For example, if a user heard anadvertisement for a TV show using interactive broadcast media, they canindicate their interest in the program by, for example, using theimmediately available interactive method such as pushing a button and/orclicking on a hyperlink on the interactive device. Information regardingidentifying the media event, the day and/or time of broadcast, thesource of broadcast, and/or other relevant information can be forwardedto an electronic calendaring system.

In certain embodiments, the system can present a schedulable broadcastand/or event to the user, receive the request from the user to schedulethe event, store the scheduled broadcast and/or event, monitor to see ifthe notification criteria for the scheduled broadcast and/or event hasoccurred, and/or present a notification that the scheduled broadcastand/or event notification criteria has occurred. The schedulablebroadcast and/or media event, also known as a scheduling opportunity,presented to the user can be accompanied by a unique identifier specificto the scheduling opportunity. When the user selects the schedulingopportunity for scheduling, the request from the user to schedule thebroadcast and/or event can be accompanied by the request so that theschedule control system storing the unique identifier specific to thescheduling opportunity, can retrieve any details associated with thescheduling opportunity required to complete the scheduling. The use ofthe unique identifier specific to the scheduling opportunity can haveadvantages in the system by reducing the bandwidth required to be sentwith the user's request to schedule. Rather than send all theinformation about the scheduling opportunity back to the system server,at least the unique identifier specific to the scheduling opportunitycan be sent and used as a key into the database to retrieve theinformation needed to complete the scheduling. Alternatively, all theinformation needed to complete the scheduling opportunity can be sentbefore and/or as the scheduling opportunity is presented to the userincluding identifying information about the user. Once received, theelectronic calendaring system can add an event in addition to theactivation of a visual, audible, and/or textual alarm noting, forexample, the exact time of the broadcast and/or a time before thebroadcast allowing the user to prepare for the broadcast. In certainembodiments, the alarm and/or alert can be specific to the broadcastand/or event. For example, the alarm can comprise acquisition and/orpresentation of the theme song for the scheduled program, a catch phrasefrom the program, and/or a message about the specific program that wasscheduled.

The system can present the scheduled broadcast and/or event notificationwith an alarm associated with the scheduled broadcast and/or event. Thesame information sent to the electronic calendaring system can also besent electronically to a digital recording device capable of receivingelectronic control messages such as through an internet protocol, WiFiconnection, SMS, email, and/or other electronic methodology. The systemcan communicate the scheduled broadcast and/or event to a second device,wherein the second device can respond when the scheduled broadcastand/or event notification criteria occurs.

In certain embodiments, a data server, such as a proprietary and/orthird party data server, can also be used to modify and/or control thebeginning and/or end time of events where the beginning and/or end timescan be transient. The end user can opt-in to the service where the dataserver can send out notification of the beginning and/or end time of anevent as a reminder, as a code for an electronic recording device tostart and/or stop recording and/or both. The electronic recording devicecan digitally record or otherwise record the scheduled broadcast and/orevent for presentation at a later time.

The system can adjust the notification criteria of the scheduledbroadcast and/or event after the scheduling of the scheduled broadcastand/or event. Flexible scheduling and/or recording can provide the useradditional features. After showing an interest in scheduling an eventand/or appointment through the generation of an interactive response,the user can be presented with options of how to schedule and/ordigitally record an event. The start time of a program is scheduled intoa local calendar in the interactive media device. For example, a cellphone with an integrated interactive broadcast media receiver and/orother devices can be used for this purpose.

In certain embodiments, the user can be presented with the option toschedule multiple associated events into the calendar, such as for eachnew episode of a TV series. The system can present the user with theoption to schedule a plurality of associated events. Some examples ofother devices which can support integrated interactive broadcast mediamay be: computers (including laptops), electronic personal digitalassistants, automotive entertainment systems, digital video recorders,digital audio devices, digital media devices, GPS devices, radios,televisions, and/or the like.

Beginning with the cell phone enabled with an interactive mediareceiver, the user's indication of interest in the interactive broadcastmedia event can be indicated by, for example, the press of a button onthe device, through clicking on a hyperlink, and/or by issuing a voicecommand. The response can occur at the time of the broadcast, by lookingthrough a history of broadcast media events that have been received onthe interactive device, and/or by going to a web site with a history ofbroadcast media events that have been broadcasted.

In certain embodiments, the system can store a history of the scheduledevents, present the history of scheduled events, and/or can receive aselection of one of the scheduled events in the history of scheduledevents. The user can then be presented with a range of possibleresponses in relation to the interactive broadcast media event. Inaddition to more common interactive broadcast media event responses,categorically designated responses can allow events to be marked withindicia indicating an association with the interactive broadcast mediaevent subject, for example, a TV show about World War II. The system canoffer alternative and/or associated choices to the user based on whatothers have selected, past selections of the user, and/or thedemographics of the user.

The system can present the user with additional schedulable events,wherein the additional schedulable events may meet association criteriato match the additional schedulable events and/or the user. Events canthen be organized into an electronic calendaring function integratedinto the cell phone and/or other devices containing the interactivebroadcast media receiver. Events can be stored and/or searchable underthe specific event, the event category, other categories, and/or othercriteria. The start date, end date, source of broadcast, identifyinginformation, category, original media form, and/or time for theprogramming can be sent along with any other interactive broadcast mediaevent data.

In certain embodiments, the system can communicate data associated withthe scheduled event to a device designated by the user. Alternatively,pushing the button, clicking on a hyperlink and/or generating a voiceresponse could connect the user, through, for example, the use of cellphone network, wifi, bluetooth and/or other similar technologies to, forexample, a database. The database can contain additional details of theinteractive broadcast media events such as start and/or end times,duration, language, and/or the like.

The system can present the user with data associated with theschedulable event. A human accessible mnemonic can be entered into theelectronic calendar to return, for example, stored information about theprogrammed media such as broadcast time and/or broadcast source. Thesystem can present the user with the option of designating a device tostore the scheduled event. The system can present the user with theoption of designating which device to assign a given portion of thescheduling, storing, and/or responding to scheduled events.

In certain embodiments, the user can be prompted by a variety ofdifferent methods if an alarm is desired, and/or can use a pre-storedpreference to automatically set an alarm. Examples of alarms can be noalarm, a default stored alarm, an alarm using musical and/or audioelements which can be specific to the exact media event (comprising, forexample, theme songs, actors voices, sound effects, audio and/or videopreviews about the programming, and/or the like), an alarm in advance ofthe scheduled time with the amount of advanced time being selected bythe user and/or going with a pre-stored default, an alarm on the day ofthe event, an alarm coordinated with a GPS system such that a databaseserver may contain the time, and/or geographic location. Alarms can be,comprise, and/or be based off a broadcast source and/or other relevantindicia about the media event, an estimate of the location of the userbased on location and/or provide warning in advance of the broadcastmedia event such that the user has time to travel to a desired locationfor the broadcast, and/or an alarm at the time of the event.

Using these various technologies, the user can effectively “close theloop” between learning about a scheduled broadcast of a program ofinterest and catching the program for interest. This can occur by, forexample, setting a preference for notification using a database server;interactively generating a response to an advertisement of a mediaevent; getting a reminder through the calendar integrated with theirinteractive broadcast media receiver when the show starts, and/or justbefore the show starts. The interactive broadcast media receiver and/orthe calendar may not be on the same device, but can be two and/or moredevices that are connected wirelessly, via a wired network, serialcable, and/or the like.

In certain embodiments, other methods available for providing areminder, can comprise: email messages, instant messages, pop upwindows, a text message, a database server generated IP data packet,text messaging, peer to peer networks, a phone call, turning on a devicesuch as a television, a facsimile, and/or other methods. The system canactivate a response in a remote device designated to respond to thescheduled event. Some and/or all of the methods can be instigated by oneand/or more remote database servers, a user device, and/or variouscombinations of both.

The systems and methods described above can also comprise an electroniccalendar on a second device distinct from the device receiving theinteractive broadcast media. Examples can comprise: computers, personaldigital assistants, digital video recorders, digital audio devices,radios, mobile, and/or cellular telephones, and/or the like. Thedatabase server can contain information about various devices that cansupport and/or allow the user to select which device and/or multipledevices to store and/or record each scheduled event and/or appointment.The link to the second device can be a direct link connecting theintegrated interactive broadcast media device such as a cell phoneand/or digital audio device through a wireless connection and/orphysical docking.

In certain embodiments, the system can store the scheduled event onmultiple devices. In certain embodiments, the system can store thescheduled event in a device different from the device that received theschedulable event. In certain embodiments, where a single user may ownmultiple devices supporting electronic calendaring, the user candesignate transmitting scheduling of events to some and/or all devices.This can ensure that regardless of the device being used at anyparticular time, the user can be notified of the scheduled event.

Users with peer to peer relations can also benefit from parallelscheduling. For example, in the case of married couples, businessassociates, and/or other peer to peer relations, scheduling of eventscan occur on multiple devices simultaneously as defined bypre-established parameters of the users, and/or of an association and/orselect group to which the users belong. Alternatively, the integratedbroadcast media device can connect to a database server that can in turnconnect to a second device to coordinate calendar based reminders,notifications, and/or record the scheduled event. Compliant devices canrecord the program, and/or can remind the user that the programmed mediais being broadcast. This feature can provide the user with the abilityto time shift the presentation of the media to fit their schedule.

In certain embodiments, some media events can be first broadcastaccording to a prearranged schedule, and/or with repetitions of themedia event broadcast in syndication. Examples can comprise: radioprograms, television shows, movies, concerts, streamed events via theinternet, sporting events and/or advertisements. Other examples can be aprogram that is broadcasted multiple times, broadcast at multiplelocations, broadcast from multiple sources and/or broadcast on a varietyof dates and/or times. A user can use an interactive technology torespond as above, but can also pick a time from a plurality of timesthat the event was broadcast. For example, dates of broadcast, source ofbroadcast, language of broadcast, conditional access related to abroadcast, categorical nature of a broadcast, and/or geographicallocation of the broadcast can affect the scheduling and/or recording ofthe media event the user wants scheduled in the calendar. The system canpresent the user with alternative notification criteria from which theuser can select a preferred notification criteria to be associated witha scheduled event.

For example, in the case of a movie and/or similar programming,scheduling can comprise the opportunity to buy a ticket for the desiredand/or related event. This option can take multiple negotiations betweenthe user, the integrated interactive broadcast media device, and/or thevenue selling the tickets and/or their agents. A credit card and/orother payment methods can be used to pay for and/or confirm detailsregarding acquisition of the tickets. The system can respond to the userrequest to schedule a schedulable event with the offer to reserve aresource associated with the scheduled event.

In certain embodiments, interactive scheduling can be done for eventsthat do not have a definitive start time, but can occur over a range oftimes. An example may be a sale occurring at a store and/or the hours ofthe sale, rather than a specific time for the sale. The system cannotify the user repeatedly until notification cessation criteria may bemet. Additional information about this type of event, such as the storename, address, GPS information, phone number, website, coupon code,special instructions, password, and/or the like can be in the calendarentry with the data directly accompanying the interactive broadcast ofthe event and/or indirectly through a database. The system can storeadditional data associated with the scheduled event in the devicecontaining the stored scheduled event.

For example, there may be situations where the event time may benegotiated before scheduling and/or recording. The negotiation can occurover terms such as: price, time of presentation, level of skillpreferred as in the case of scheduling an interactive gaming event,conditional access geographic location, language, and/or the like. Anexample can be a professional service setting appointments forcustomers. The service can advertise through an interactive mediabroadcast and/or peer to peer connection. A user can receive thebroadcast and/or express an interest by, for example, pressing a button,generating a voice command, clicking on a hyperlink and/or otherinteractive response when the ad is broadcasted, and/or after thebroadcast by selecting the ad from an electronic history of interactivebroadcasts received.

In certain embodiments, the negotiations can occur via:machine-to-machine, user to machine, user's machine to a person, and/oruser to person (peer to peer). For example, in the case of machine tomachine, a software module interacting with the electronic calendarassociated with the user's interactive broadcast media device cancompare the times when the user was available to the service provider'selectronic calendar available times. In certain embodiments, based onthe user's preferences, the appointment can be automatically scheduledwithout user involvement and/or the user could confirm the appointment,request another time, adjust the scheduling to a to-do list, requestanother person to complete the scheduling, and/or abandon the schedulingattempt.

For example, in the case of user to machine, after the user hasindicated an interest in the interactive broadcast media event, theservice provider's machine can communicate with the user to presentavailable times, broadcast sources, formats, and/or the like. This canstart with available time suggestions, sources, formats, by querying theuser on their preferences, and/or the like.

In certain embodiments, for example, in the case of user machine toperson, after the user has expressed interest in the interactivebroadcast media event and/or category, the person can view availableslots based on the user device calendar and/or complete the schedulingand/or appointment. The user can automatically accept the scheduledevent and/or appointment, allow user approval before the scheduled eventand/or appointment is accepted, and/or review the scheduled event and/orappointment at a later time.

The system can present the user with options associated with the mediasegment, respond to the user option selection, and/or confirmapplicability of the user option selected. For example, the case of userto person (peer to peer) can facilitate a connection that can allow theuser to interact with a second person to make their scheduled eventand/or appointment selection. One user can schedule an event for afriend where a reminder, alarm and/or scheduled recording of the eventcan occur on the friend's local and/or remote device, and/or on aseparate remote server. The system can transmit a schedulable eventoption to a second user. Multiple variations of the dialog between aninteractive broadcast media source, interactive devices, associatedelectronic calendar and/or interactive broadcast media data servers,and/or peer-to-peer services are provided.

In certain embodiments, as part of the interactive scheduling,appointment, and/or digital recording process, selection and/orconfirmation of calendar events and/or appointments can be automaticallyset. This can provide the user the ability to opt-out once the scheduleand/or appointment selection is accepted, unless the user opts out ofthe automatically scheduling feature. An example of this feature can bea time share reservation system where the user specifies a desired daterange for reserving accommodations, but where the user may not determineimmediately which dates are available. Once the automated reservationsystem provides the user with an acceptable option, the user can opt-outof any further attempts to schedule time with the time-share serviceuntil the next season.

The user also can opt-out and/or completely cease any further attemptsto schedule dates at any time in the future. The system can remind theuser of a scheduled event with incomplete criteria selection. The systemcan store schedulable events, wherein the user has not met some and/orall scheduling criteria. The system can schedule two episodes of atelevision and/or radio series and/or opt out after receipt of the twoepisodes. Alternatively, event scheduling, recording, and/orconfirmation can be performed through an opt-in procedure, where theuser can perform an action to accept each media event schedule and/orappointment selected. The system can notify the user of conflicts withthe scheduled event. The confirmation can be a positive confirmation;yes or no, to a selection made from a choice and/or selections made bythe user, and/or it can comprise actions such as identity verificationand/or a charge to a credit card.

In certain embodiments, there can be cases where the user cannotcomplete an interactive schedule selection and/or accept an appointment.For example, the user may change their mind on scheduling the eventand/or they may want to delay scheduling of the event. Options can allowthe user to cancel the selection, automatically cancel a selection ifthe user does not continue in a timely manner, send a reminder by phone,mail, text message, instant message, facsimile, email, post the reminderon a web site, and/or the like. The system can receive a scheduled eventnotification criteria change from, for example, the user before thescheduled event occurs. Options can allow the selected event schedule tobe moved to an electronic to-do list associated with the user for theuser to review, and/or act on at a later time. The system can storepreviously scheduled events for future access by the user.

The scheduling options described can be achieved if the user has createda user profile online, in a private database server, and/or the like. Incertain embodiments, the system can report scheduled events withselected data associated with the scheduled events. The online and/ordatabase server user profile can store important information about theuser, such as interests for the interactive broadcast media providerand/or professional services to better understand the user, and/or tobetter complete the scheduling process. The profile may prevent the userfrom duplicating information; may allow the user to modify theiraccount, when for example, life changes occur such as moving, marriage,changing service providers such as email, cellular, and/or ISPs; and/orthe like may occur. The user profile can reflect the user's privacyand/or security selections as to preferences the user may want toestablish in relation to the scheduling interaction.

The decision to schedule an event could be prompted by a broadcastmessage and/or an interactive media transmission, for example, atelevision show, and/or advertisement, and/or an opportunity vote. Ifthe user wants to schedule in the calendar when future airings and/orbroadcasts of the show, content, and/or broadcast could take placeand/or advertised could take place, the user could make that selectionand/or indicate/program the system with that scheduling practice. Thiscould schedule the next episode and/or the user could be presented withone and/or more future episodes to determine which could be scheduledinto the calendar and/or re-broadcasts of the current episode beingshown could be provided as an option for scheduling. In certainembodiments, other episodes that might appeal to the user based on theirselection of the show and/or broadcast could be presented as additionaland/or alternative scheduling options. If the future airing and/orbroadcast dates are not yet determined, the system could note theinterest and/or provide the scheduling opportunity to the user at alater date when the broadcast schedule is determined and/or changed.

The scheduling could be possible between two user devices with calendarsdirectly. The two devices could perform a protocol handshake to shareinformation, compare the available schedule appointments on one devicewith the open calendar spots on the other device and/or provide theusers with a selection to choose from. The user devices can apply aselection criteria that prioritizes the comparison of availableappointment dates. The criteria can use the length of the event beingscheduled, the time to elapse before the scheduled appointment and/orthe potential providers availability compared to preferences forproviders. The length of time could comprise a minimum and/or maximumamount of time that the scheduled broadcast and/or appointment shouldoccur. A single choice may be presented for acceptance and/or rejectionand/or multiple choices are presented to be selected from and/or forother options to be generated. Such a system could allow for schedulingof events, including without limitation doctors visits, service calls,hair appointments, car maintenance, sales events, appointments, movies,plays, converts, test drives, maintenance reminders, or the like.

The scheduling of an event could be communicated to a database. Theinformation communicated could comprise at least one of the following:the scheduled event, the user identification of the person schedulingthe event, the identification of the calendar the event is scheduled on,an identification of what prompted the scheduling of the event, whatoptions were offered to the user but not selected, what options wereoffered to the user and selected, the time and/or date of the scheduledevent, the time and/or date the scheduling in the calendar occurred, thetime and/or date of what prompted the scheduling and/or the device beingused to schedule the event. If a user starts to schedule and thenabandons the process, that information could be communicated to thedatabase. The identification can be by content, type, and/or uniquenessto each specific occurrence. Thus the identification could havedifferent levels of granularity in the specification of the aboveinformation. On one level the identification may indicate that a show ona specific network was scheduled. On another level of identificationgranularity, the identification could be unique to the specific instanceof what prompted the scheduling, the specific event scheduled, thespecific calendar scheduled on, and/or the specific options acceptedand/or rejected in the process of scheduling. The uniqueness of theidentifiers will depend on the level of reporting from the databasedesired. Highly specific identification can be aggregated to moreabstract levels. For example, if the database had the specific instanceof what prompted the scheduling, the specific event scheduled, thespecific calendar scheduled on, and/or the specific options acceptedand/or rejected in the process of scheduling, the report may aggregatethat event into a summary of the number of events scheduled into thecalendar for the network that the broadcast/show is on. The database canlink additional information about the identifiers within the database.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the scheduler system. The scheduleoriginator 100 (for example, an advertiser/broadcaster using a webbrowser to submit data to the schedule control system 120) can place thescheduling opportunity with the schedule control system 120 usingcommunication link 105. As part of placing the scheduling opportunity,the schedule originator 100 can select what calendar communicationsdevices 140 the schedule should be targeted for, the preferred scheduledeliver system 130, associated material to go with the schedulingopportunity such as an advertisement for the program that can bescheduled and/or similar options. The scheduler originator 100 cantransmit, send, and/or indicate its selections to the schedule controlsystem 120 using communication link 105. The schedule control system 120can access databases internal to the schedule control system 120 and/orthird party database 110 using communication link 115 as part ofpreparing the scheduling opportunity to the calendar communicationsdevice 140 including any additional information associated with thescheduling opportunity. The schedule control system 120 can alsodetermine the unique identifier specific to the instance of thescheduling opportunity by either internally generating the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of scheduling opportunity and/orobtaining the unique identifier specific to the instance of schedulingopportunity from another source such as the third party databases 110and/or schedule originator 100. The unique identifier specific to theinstance of scheduling opportunity can then be communicated to theschedule delivery system 130 using communication link 125. In additionto the unique identifier specific to the instance of schedulingopportunity, additional information about the event that can bescheduled and/or the details to complete the scheduling can also becommunicated to the schedule delivery system 130.

In certain embodiments, the schedule delivery system 130 communicates atleast the unique identifier specific to the instance of schedulingopportunity specific to the instance of scheduling opportunity to thecalendar communications device 140 using communication link 135. Inaddition, additional information associated with the scheduling event orbroadcast can be sent with the unique identifier specific to theinstance of scheduling opportunity, including but not limited to programinformation, scheduling information, alert settings, and/or the like.The nature of the communication link 135 depends on the calendarcommunications device 140. In some systems, the transmission of theunique identifier associated with the scheduling event may use a one waypath, for example with RDS and/or satellite radio. In other systems, thetransmission of the unique identifier associated with the schedulingevent uses a bidirectional communication path, for example a cellphone/wireless device connection and/or internet.

The calendar communications device 140 may be associated with anauxiliary device 145 and/or the calendar communications device 140 mayperform the schedule timing function itself. The calendar communicationsdevice 140 may receive the unique identifier specific to the instance ofthe scheduling opportunity, the user 150 may use the calendarcommunications device 140 to decide to schedule the event and theauxiliary device can be used to perform the timing function to alert theuser when the scheduled broadcast and/or event is to occur. For example,in certain embodiment, the calendar communications device 140 is a cellphone configured to allow the user to select scheduled broadcasts/eventson the cell phone 140. The cell phone 140 can be configured to returnthe unique identifier associated with the scheduling broadcast and/orevent to the schedule control system 120, and the scheduling controlsystem 120 can be configured to send the scheduling event data todigital video recorder 145 to perform the schedule timing operation. Thereturn path of the unique identifier specific to the instance ofscheduling opportunity can be directly from the calendar communicationsdevice 140 to the schedule control system 120 using communication link170, or the return path can be from the calendar communications device140 to the schedule delivery system 130 using communication link 135 andthen from schedule delivery system 130 to schedule control system 120using communication link 125, or the return path can be through theauxiliary device 145 using communication link 165. The return path fromthe auxiliary device 145 can be directly to the schedule control system120 using communication link 175, through the schedule delivery system130 using communication link 180 and/or back through the calendarcommunications device 140 using communication link 165.

The user interfaces 155 and/or 160 to the user 150 can be video, audio,tactile and/or a combination. For example, a cell phone 140 could have adisplay screen, a keypad input, an audio input and/or an audio output aspart of the user interfaces 155 and/or 160. The communication links 105,115, 125, 125, 165, 170 and 175 are all shown as bidirectionalcommunication paths, but depending on the nature and requirements of thesystem they may be unidirectional communication paths.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the schedule control system 120.The communication links 105, 115, 135, 170 and 175 are as described fromFIG. 1 . The presence and/or absence of elements of the system, such asthird party database 110 and/or auxiliary device 145 can determine thepresence and/or absence of the corresponding communication link and/orcommunication module. The nature of the communication modules 200, 210,220, 230, and 240 can depend on the nature of the correspondingcommunication links. The communication modules 200, 210, 220, 230, and240 may be self contained and/or use processor 250 and/or memory 270.The memory 270 can contain the program and/or data needed to operate theschedule control system 120. The processor 250 can comprise specialpurpose circuitry such as encryption circuitry. The database 260 canstore the unique identifiers and/or associated schedule information sothat when a unique identifier is returned, the unique identifier can beused as a key into the database allowing for retrieval and/ortransmission of the correct scheduling broadcast and/or eventinformation. The timing module 280 allows for a check to be made if thescheduling event associated with the returned unique identifier is stillvalid. If the scheduling event is valid, the associated schedulinginformation can be sent to the calendar communications device 140 and/orthe auxiliary device 145 as appropriate. If the scheduling event haspassed, a message indicating that the scheduling event has expiredand/or a message indicating an alternative scheduling broadcast and/orevent can be sent to the calendar communications device 140 and/or theauxiliary device 145. The operator interface module 290 allows for inputinto the schedule control system 120 and/or for output such as reportsto be generated. By tracking the unique identifiers being sent fromand/or returned to the schedule control system 120, the efficacy and/orpopularity of scheduling campaigns can be determined. The uniqueidentifiers specific to the instance of scheduling opportunity can bedetermined in the schedule control system 120. The determination can beaccomplished by generation of the unique identifiers specific to theinstance of scheduling opportunity using the processor 250, program codestored in the memory 270, and/or the database 260, and/or by meansexternal to the schedule control system 120 such as through the thirdparty database 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the calendar communications device140. The calendar communications device 140 can include a communicationmodule and/or means that comprises at least an input and/or an output.Shown are communication module 350, 340 and 360 for communicating to theschedule delivery system 130 using communication link 135, schedulecontrol system 120 using communication link 170 and auxiliary device 145using communication link 165. The communication module 340, 350 and 360are shown independently, but they may be combined depending on thenature of the communication protocols and/or optionally eliminated forexample if there is not an auxiliary device 145 in the system. The userinterface 155 can comprise a display 300, a speaker 310, a key input320, and/or microphone 330. The processing module 370 comprises theprocessor, memory, program code, and/or similar elements to operate thecommunication module 340, 350, 360 and user interface 155 in addition toproviding the timing elements to alert the user when the scheduledbroadcast and/or event occurs. The unique identifier specific to theinstance of scheduling opportunity and/or any additional informationabout the scheduling opportunity can arrive and/or be transmittedthrough communication link 135 and/or be presented as appropriate ondisplay 300. The user can use the key input 320 and/or the microphone330 to select the scheduling opportunity. The unique identifier specificto the instance of scheduling opportunity can be returned directlyand/or indirectly to the schedule control system 120 through one of thecommunication module 340, 350, 360. The information needed to schedulethe event may be delivered with the unique identifier specific to theinstance of scheduling opportunity and/or as a direct and/or indirectresponse from the schedule control system 120 having received the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of scheduling opportunity responseof the calendar communications device 140. The processing module 370schedules the event and/or at the appropriate time alerts the user usingthe speaker 310 and/or the display 300 and/or other alerting moduleand/or apparatus, a vibration apparatus.

Computing System

It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that thefollowing embodiments of computing systems, computer clients, servers,computing system devices, and/or the components related thereto can beused in any of the embodiments described herein.

In certain embodiments, the systems, computer clients and/or serversdescribed above take the form of a computing system 400 shown in FIG. 4, which is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computing system(which can be a fixed system and/or mobile device) that is incommunication with one and/or more computing systems 420 and/or oneand/or more data sources 425 via one and/or more networks 410. Thecomputing system 400 may be used to implement one and/or more of thesystems and methods described herein. In addition, in one embodiment,the computing system 400 may be configured to process image files. WhileFIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a computing system 400, it isrecognized that the functionality provided for in the components andmodules of computing system 400 may be combined into fewer componentsand modules and/or further separated into additional components andmodules.

Client/Server Module

In one embodiment, the system 400 comprises a scheduler module 406 thatcarries out the functions, methods, and/or processes described herein.The scheduler module 406 may be executed on the computing system 400 bya central processing unit 404 discussed further below.

Computing System Components

In one embodiment, the processes, systems, and methods illustrated abovemay be embodied in part and/or in whole in software that is running on acomputing device. The functionality provided for in the components andmodules of the computing device may comprise one and/or more componentsand/or modules. For example, the computing device may comprise multiplecentral processing units (CPUs) and a mass storage device, such as maybe implemented in an array of servers.

In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodiedin hardware and/or firmware, and/or to a collection of softwareinstructions, possibly having entry and exit points, written in aprogramming language, such as, for example, Java, C or C++, or the like.A software module may be compiled and linked into an executable program,installed in a dynamic link library, and/or may be written in aninterpreted programming language such as, for example, BASIC, Perl, Lua,and/or Python. It will be appreciated that software modules may becallable from other modules and/or from themselves, and/or may beinvoked in response to detected events and/or interrupts. Softwareinstructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will befurther appreciated that hardware modules may be comprised of connectedlogic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or may be comprised ofprogrammable units, such as programmable gate arrays and/or processors.The modules described herein are preferably implemented as softwaremodules, but may be represented in hardware and/or firmware. Generally,the modules described herein refer to logical modules that may becombined with other modules and/or divided into sub-modules despitetheir physical organization and/or storage.

In one embodiment, the computing system 400 also comprises a mainframecomputer suitable for controlling and/or communicating with largedatabases, performing high volume transaction processing, and generatingreports from large databases. The computing system 400 also comprises acentral processing unit (“CPU”) 404, which may comprise a conventionalmicroprocessor. The computing system 400 further comprises a memory 405,such as random access memory (“RAM”) for temporary storage ofinformation and/or a read only memory (“ROM”) for permanent storage ofinformation, and a mass storage device 401, such as a hard drive,diskette, and/or optical media storage device. Typically, the modules ofthe computing system 400 are connected to the computer using a standardsbased bus system. In different embodiments, the standards based bussystem could be Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Microchannel,SCSI, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA) and Extended ISA (EISA)architectures, for example.

An embodiment of the computing system 400 comprises one or more commonlyavailable input/output (I/O) devices and interfaces 403, such as akeyboard, mouse, touchpad, and printer. In one embodiment, the I/Odevices and interfaces 403 comprise one or more display devices, such asa monitor, that allows the visual presentation of data to a user. Moreparticularly, a display device provides for the presentation of GUIs,application software data, and multimedia presentations, for example. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 4 , the I/O devices and interfaces 403 alsoprovide a communications interface to various external devices. Thecomputing system 400 may also comprise one or more multimedia devices402, such as speakers, video cards, graphics accelerators, andmicrophones, for example.

Computing System Device/Operating System

The computing system 400 may run on a variety of computing devices, suchas, for example, a server, a Windows server, an Structure Query Languageserver, a Unix server, a personal computer, a mainframe computer, alaptop computer, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a kiosk, anaudio player, and so forth. The computing system 400 is generallycontrolled and coordinated by operating system software, such as z/OS,DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP,Windows Vista, Linux, BSD, SunOS, Solaris, or other compatible operatingsystems. In Macintosh systems, the operating system may be any availableoperating system, such as MAC OS X. In other embodiments, the computingsystem 400 may be controlled by a proprietary operating system.Conventional operating systems control and schedule computer processesfor execution, perform memory management, provide file system,networking, and I/O services, and provide a user interface, such as agraphical user interface (“GUI”), among other things.

Network

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the computing system 400 is coupled to anetwork 410, such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet, for example, via awired, wireless, or combination of wired and wireless, communicationlink 415. The network 410 communicates with various computing devicesand/or other electronic devices via wired and/or wireless communicationlinks. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the network 410 is communicatingwith one or more computing systems 420 and/or one or more data sources425.

Access to the scheduler module 406 of the computer system 400 bycomputing systems 410 and/or by data sources 425 may be through aweb-enabled user access point such as the computing systems' 410 or datasource's 420 personal computer, cellular phone, laptop, or other devicecapable of connecting to the network 410. Such a device may have abrowser module is implemented as a module that uses text, graphics,audio, video, and other media to present data and to allow interactionwith data via the network 410.

The browser module and/or other output module may be implemented as acombination of an all points addressable display such as a cathode-raytube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, or othertypes and/or combinations of displays. In addition, the browser moduleor other output module may be implemented to communicate with inputdevices 403 and may also comprise software with the appropriateinterfaces which allow a user to access data through the use of stylizedscreen elements such as, for example, menus, windows, dialog boxes,toolbars, and controls (for example, radio buttons, check boxes, slidingscales, and so forth). Furthermore, the browser module and/or otheroutput module may communicate with a set of input and output devices toreceive signals from the user.

The input device(s) may comprise a keyboard, roller ball, pen andstylus, mouse, trackball, voice recognition system, and/orpre-designated switches or buttons. The output device(s) may comprise aspeaker, a display screen, a printer, or a voice synthesizer. Inaddition a touch screen may act as a hybrid input/output device. Inanother embodiment, a user may interact with the system more directlysuch as through a system terminal connected to the score generatorwithout communications over the Internet, a WAN, or LAN, or similarnetwork.

In certain embodiments, the system 400 may comprise a physical orlogical connection established between a remote microprocessor and amainframe host computer for the express purpose of uploading,downloading, or viewing interactive data and databases on-line in realtime. The remote microprocessor may be operated by an entity operatingthe computer system 400, including the client server systems or the mainserver system, and/or may be operated by one or more of the data sources425 and/or one or more of the computing systems. In certain embodiments,terminal emulation software may be used on the microprocessor forparticipating in the micro-mainframe link.

In certain embodiments, computing systems 420 who are internal to anentity operating the computer system 400 may access the scheduler module406 internally as an application or process run by the CPU 404.

User Access Point

In one embodiment, a user access point comprises a personal computer, alaptop computer, a cellular phone, a GPS system, a Blackberry® device, aportable computing device, a server, a computer workstation, a localarea network of individual computers, an interactive kiosk, a personaldigital assistant, an interactive wireless communications device, ahandheld computer, an embedded computing device, or the like.

Other Systems

In addition to the systems that are illustrated in FIG. 4 , the network410 may communicate with other data sources or other computing devices.The computing system 400 may also comprise one or more internal and/orexternal data sources. In certain embodiments, one or more of the datarepositories and the data sources may be implemented using a relationaldatabase, such as DB2, Sybase, Oracle, CodeBase and Microsoft® SQLServer, mySQL as well as other types of databases such as, for example,a flat file database, an entity-relationship database, andobject-oriented database, and/or a record-based database.

In certain embodiments, the acts, methods, and processes describedherein are implemented within, or using, software modules (programs)that are executed by one or more general purpose computers. The softwaremodules may be stored on or within any suitable computer-readablemedium. It should be understood that the various steps may alternativelybe implemented in-whole or in-part within specially designed hardware.The skilled artisan will recognize that not all calculations, analysesand/or optimization require the use of computers, though any of theabove-described methods, calculations or analyses can be facilitatedthrough the use of computers.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Additionally, the skilled artisan will recognize that any ofthe above-described methods can be carried out using any appropriateapparatus. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature inconnection with an embodiment can be used in all other disclosedembodiments set forth herein. Thus, it is intended that the scope of thepresent invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are inany way required for one or more embodiments or that one or moreembodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without userinput or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps areincluded or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Various inventive methods have been described in this document. Variouscombinations of these methods (as well as others) may be implemented ina given system, and not all are required to practice the presentinvention. Further, the methods and system may be implementeddifferently than described herein without departing from the true spiritand scope of the invention. Thus, nothing in this document is intendedto suggest that any particular feature, method, or step is a requirementof the invention.

All of the methods and processes described above may be embodied in, andfully automated via, software code modules executed by one or moregeneral purpose computers. The code modules may be stored in any type ofcomputer-readable medium or other computer storage device. Some or allof the methods may alternatively be embodied in specialized computerhardware.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Additionally, the skilled artisan will recognize that any ofthe above-described methods can be carried out using any appropriateapparatus. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature inconnection with an embodiment can be used in all other disclosedembodiments set forth herein. Thus, it is intended that the scope of thepresent invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above.

1. (canceled)
 2. A scheduling system that associates a schedulingopportunity with a media event that is received from a first computersystem by a second computer system that determines a unique identifierspecific to an instance of the scheduling opportunity, the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity beingassociated with the media event during a transmission of the media eventto a third computer system, the scheduling system comprising: a receiverassociated with the second computer system that receives, from the firstcomputer system through a computer network, the instance of thescheduling opportunity, the instance of the scheduling opportunitycomprising a request to schedule the transmission of the media event; amicroprocessor and a memory associated with the second computer systemthat determines the unique identifier specific to the instance of thescheduling opportunity; wherein the microprocessor and the memoryassociated with the second computer system further collects informationassociated with the media event from the first computer system; whereinthe microprocessor and the memory associated with the second computersystem further stores the unique identifier specific to the instance ofthe scheduling opportunity and the information associated with the mediaevent; a transmitter associated with the second computer system thattransmits to the first computer system through the computer network theunique identifier specific to the instance of the schedulingopportunity; wherein the receiver associated with the second computersystem further receives, from the first computer system through thecomputer network, a request to transmit the media event, the request totransmit the media event including at least the unique identifierspecific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity; wherein thereceiver associated with the second computer system further receives,from the first computer system through the computer network, the mediaevent; and wherein the transmitter associated with the second computersystem further transmits, through the computer network to the thirdcomputer system, the transmission of the media event, the transmissionof the media event to the third computer system being associated withthe unique identifier specific to the instance of the schedulingopportunity during the transmission of the media event to the thirdcomputer system.
 3. The scheduling system of claim 2, wherein the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity isonly valid for a specified time.
 4. The scheduling system of claim 2,wherein the information associated with the media event includes atleast one of the following: a source, a title, information regardingidentifying the media event, a limitation on the media event.
 5. Thescheduling system of claim 2, wherein the collection of informationassociated with the media event by the microprocessor and the memoryassociated with the second computer system is accomplished at least inpart through the computer network.
 6. The scheduling system of claim 2,wherein the request to transmit the media event includes a specific timefor the transmission of the media event.
 7. The scheduling system ofclaim 6, wherein the transmission of the media event to the thirdcomputer system by the transmitter associated with the second computersystem is made in accordance with the specific time for the transmissionof the media event.
 8. The scheduling system of claim 2, wherein themicroprocessor and the memory associated with the second computer systemfurther stores the media event for subsequent transmissions of the mediaevent, the media event being stored in association with the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity. 9.The scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the receiver associated withthe second computer system further receives a subsequent request by afourth computer system for a transmission of the media event to thefourth computer system, the subsequent request including at least theunique identifier specific to the instance of the schedulingopportunity.
 10. The scheduling system of claim 2, wherein thetransmitter associated with the second computer system further transmitsthe media event to a plurality of other computer systems, thetransmission to the plurality of other computer systems being associatedwith the unique identifier specific to the instance of the schedulingopportunity during the transmission to the plurality of other computersystems.
 11. The scheduling system of claim 2, wherein the transmitterassociated with the second computer system further transmits to thethird computer system at least a portion of the information associatedwith the media event.
 12. The scheduling system of claim 9, wherein thetransmitter associated with the second computer system further transmitsto the fourth computer system at least a portion of the informationassociated with the media event.
 13. A method that associates ascheduling opportunity with a media event that is received from a firstcomputer system, by a second computer that determines a uniqueidentifier specific to an instance of the scheduling opportunity, theunique identifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunitybeing associated with the media event during a transmission of the mediaevent to a third computer system, the method comprising: receiving, fromthe first computer system by the second computer system, through acomputer network, the instance of the scheduling opportunity, theinstance of the scheduling opportunity comprising a request to schedulethe transmission of the media event; determining, by the second computersystem, the unique identifier specific to the instance of the schedulingopportunity; collecting, by the second computer system, informationassociated with the media event from the first computer system; storing,in a memory associated with the second computer system, the uniqueidentifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunity andthe information associated with the media event; transmitting, from thesecond computer system to the first computer system through the computernetwork, the unique identifier specific to the instance of thescheduling opportunity; receiving, from the first computer system by thesecond computer system through the computer network, a request totransmit the media event, the request to transmit the media eventincluding at least the unique identifier specific to the instance of thescheduling opportunity; receiving, from the first computer system by thesecond computer system through the computer network, the media event;and transmitting, from the second computer system through the computernetwork to the third computer system, the transmission of the mediaevent, the transmission of the media event to the third computer systembeing associated with the unique identifier specific to the instance ofthe scheduling opportunity during the transmission of the media event tothe third computer system.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein theunique identifier specific to the instance of the scheduling opportunityis only valid for a specified time.
 15. The method of claim 13, whereinthe information associated with the media event includes at least one ofthe following: a source, a title, information regarding identifying themedia event, a limitation on the media event.
 16. The method of claim13, wherein the collecting by the second computer system informationassociated with the media event is accomplished at least in part throughthe computer network.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the request totransmit the media event includes a specific time for the transmissionof the media event.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmissionof the media event to the third computer system is made in accordancewith the specific time for the transmission of the media event.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising, storing, in the memoryassociated with the second computer system, the media event forsubsequent transmissions of the media event, the media event beingstored in association with the unique identifier specific to theinstance of the scheduling opportunity.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising, receiving by the second computer system through thecomputer network a subsequent request by a fourth computer system for atransmission of the media event to the fourth computer system, thesubsequent request including at least the unique identifier specific tothe instance of the scheduling opportunity.
 21. The method of claim 13,wherein the transmission of the media event to the third computer systemfurther includes at least a portion of the information associated withthe media event.
 22. The method of claim 20, further comprisingtransmitting the media event from the second computer system through thecomputer network to the fourth computer system, wherein the transmittingthe media event from the second computer system through the computernetwork to the fourth computer system further includes at least aportion of the information associated with the media event.